Then came Chelsea’s nine-man capitulation at home to Burnley, becoming only the second reigning champions – after Leicester – to lose the first game of their defence.

Not to mention Huddersfield dispatching Crystal Palace and Watford’s late, late equaliser against Liverpool.

Jamie Vardy celebrates after making it 2-1 to Leicester against Arsenal (Image: Plumb Images)

How much, or little, can be read into these first fixtures?

We have asked City writers Rob Tanner, Jordan Blackwell and columnist Gary Silke to give their views on who will win the title, who will finish in the top four, who will get relegated and where will Leicester finish?

So, here is my attempt at predicting the final table – nine months before the end, by which time we will inevitably look back and laugh at just how wrong I was. (Last year, I had West Ham in the top four...)

poll loading

Where will Leicester City finish in Premier League this season?

3000+ VOTES SO FAR

TOP FOUR

1. Manchester City

For a team that has spent more than £400million in the last three transfer windows, the expectation is to win the title. Nothing else, bar perhaps a Champions League win, will suffice.

Money, as Leicester proved two seasons ago, does not guarantee you success but with the likes of Kevin De Bruyne,

Sergio Aguero, Gabriel Jesus, David Silva, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling at his disposal, this could well be the season for Pep Guardiola. It had better be, anyway. For his sake.

Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus celebrate during the Premier League match between Brighton and Manchester City (Image: Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)

2. Manchester United

Having said that, we think Man United could run them close. Their 4-0 win over abject West Ham was the club’s biggest in three years.

Romelu Lukaku is off the mark in style, Nemanja Matic’s arrival appears to have given more freedom to Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan and seeing Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial fly down the wing was reminiscent of the United of old.

Read More

3. Tottenham

Could this finally be Tottenham’s year? No. We don’t think so. Spurs have a settled side, including England’s best two attacking players. They do not concede many goals, and score plenty, which is always a potent mix.

However, there are questions over their strength in depth, with the added work-load of the Champions League, and seem reliant on avoiding injuries more than any other title contender.

4. Chelsea

All does not seem rosy in the Chelsea camp. The farce over Diego Costa, the ridiculous decision to sell Matic to a title rival, and the injury to Eden Hazard. Not to mention Antonio Conte appears to have gone a bit mad.

We cannot see them being the same force as last year, and it is a close call between them, Arsenal and Liverpool for the final Champions League spot. Out of the three, Chelsea are the ones with the least soft centre.

POSSIBLE CONTENDERS

5. Arsenal

Alexandre Lacazette is an excellent signing, but much of Arsenal’s hopes still hinge over whether Alexis Sanchez stays at the club.

Arsenal still have the ability to play some majestic football but their defence can be woeful, as Jamie Vardy exploited.

Jamie Vardy scores to make it 2-3 during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Leicester City at Emirates Stadium. Photo by Plumb Images/Leicester City FC via Getty Images

6. Liverpool

Like Arsenal and Sanchez, a lot depends on what happens with Philippe Coutinho. The little Brazilian is so crucial to their play, even if new signing Mo Salah has made an immediate impact with a goal and winning a penalty on his debut.

However, their defence is still far too poor for them to finish in the top four.

Read More

7. Everton

The Toffees have paid a lot of money for players this summer, and this week signed playmaker Gylfi Sigurdsson, a target for Leicester.

Wayne Rooney may have got the romantic winner against Stoke but is he really going to be able to fire them into Europe?

MID-TABLE

8. Leicester City

When you take out all those teams mentioned so far, and look down at the rest, Leicester should, repeat should, be better and more consistent than all of them.

Scoring three goals at Arsenal was excellent, and there were plenty of positives, but to finish eighth they must cut out those defensive lapses from the weekend. If they can do that, there is no reason why they cannot push Everton.

Dejected Leicester City players look on after conceding a fourth goal during the Premier League match against Arsenal. Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images

9. Southampton

Somehow, despite selling their best players every season, and changing managers, Southampton still manage to challenge in the top half.

We think they will again. Saints are always good for a clean sheet, but do struggle for goals. Manolo Gabbiadini is inconsistent, and Charlie Austin is injury prone.

10. West Brom

Now, it’s getting difficult. The rest of the teams all blend into the same quagmire of averageness. Good bits, but all with consistent faults.

We’ve played safe with West Brom, who got off to the perfect Tony Pulis start. Clean sheet, tick. Goal from a set-play, tick. Scored by a defender, tick.

We bet Tony slept in his cap on Saturday night.

The signing of Jay Rodriguez looks to have given them an extra attacking sharpness.

Read More

11. Burnley

A stunning win at champions Chelsea. The Clarets may have sold their best centre-back in Michael Keane as well as striker Andre Gray, but they have added well with the experience of Jon Walters from Stoke.

12. Bournemouth

The Cherries got Pulised on opening day, but there are plenty of attributes there for another strong season. The signings of Nathan Ake and Jermain Defoe will bolster strength in both boxes.

Jermain Defoe in action during the Premier League match between West Brom and Bournemouth (Image: Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)

13. Watford

A thrilling draw at home to Liverpool, which showed both heart and attacking prowess. Nathanial Chalobah, Andre Gray and Will Hughes have added youth and flair, with an excellent manager in Marco Silva.

14. Stoke

Having sold both Marko Arnautovic and Jon Walters this summer, Stoke have lost two experienced, influential attackers who played key roles last season. They have not been adequately replaced.

Read More

STRUGGLERS

15. Brighton

Being outclassed by Man City is no reason for embarrassment, and we believe the Seagulls can survive. The return of Leicester fan favourite Anthony Knockaert, last season’s Championship player of the year, from injury will give them an extra boost.

16. Crystal Palace

It may be early days, but the way Palace capitulated at home to Premier League new boys Huddersfield is a real cause for alarm. We fancy them to really struggle.

The consensus, though, is that Christian Benteke and Wilfried Zaha should score them enough goals to stay up, but only just.

17. Swansea

The departure of Sigurdsson really is a huge blow for Swansea, who relied so heavily on the Iceland international for survival last term. They can expect another season of scrapping to avoid relegation.

BOTTOM THREE

18. West Ham

Last season, I stupidly predicted West Ham to finish in the top four. This time, they are in my bottom three.

The Hammers have splashed out on the likes of Javier Hernandez, Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta and Arnautovic, but the absence of desire and interest shown in their 4-0 defeat at Manchester United was appalling. If that is your attitude, it does not matter how talented the players are.

Read More

19. Newcastle

Their recruitment this summer has been abysmal. And if they are to survive, which we don’t think they will, it is perhaps advisable that their captain avoids stamping on opponents in front of the referee in future.

20. Huddersfield

Despite a wonderful opening-day win at Palace, Huddersfield will struggle to keep up that level of performance throughout the season. Sorry.